Stop mechanism for dispensing devices



Jan. 9, 1940.

l R. G. BIRR STOP MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING DEVICES Filed Jan. 23, 1939eets-Sheet l Jan. 9, 1940. R, G. BIRR STOP MECHANISM FOR DISPENSINGDEVICES Filed Jan. 23, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Afgen/0.7

i 10:?. tothe timer and its adjusting means. o the meansby which theplate is'raised to stoppo- 10:;

' y that application is alsosliown the formof means` of the' plateinjitsguide means; the use of a 2Q moved intonstop position and then released,for 'cally' feed out material at theend of the timing 2.

n' 55`. form feedingy mechanism having astop which` `to showanyfoffthedetails except `those relating 1 5, 5 l

Patented J'a1'1.4`9,194(7)y gi; y v

r LJNITEDv STATES PATENT( orb-rice sToP MECHANISM Foa DISPENSING l v,DEVICES Rudolph GBii-r, Lombard,llll.,assig11or`to Steiner f n v i SalesCompany, Salt Lake City, Utah, a corf w vporationof` Utah; Y

Application Jn'uar'y 23, 1939,- seriai No. 252,281 15 claims` (o1.271-23) 'This invention relates to improvementsin stop must be:conditioned forr independent motion mechanisms for v dispensingdevices, and `has away-fromstop position. l l' n .V among its objectsIto provide'a dispensing cabinet -Features of the-inventioninclude: theuse of p having a time-stop mechanism, which is so .placed a stop plateguided byhorizontallyspaced guide ,5i as to have its timer-adjustmentmeans accessible means; theusei-{Of 'two guide means; thewid'e 5;;

at the front of the cabinet. spacing ofqsaid guide meansythe looseslidingy n Another object is to provide such an arrange` mounting of theplate; the 'use ofa flat plate havment, inconjunction with a, feedingmeans which ing its face `of greatest area opposed toa coris arrangedrearwardly in thecabinethrelatively` respondingface of a support;thepositioning of,`

Another object yis `to provide a stop mecha-fv sition by operation ofthe feeding means, relanism,` one of the stops of which carries a partrof tive to the guide means; the attachment of a link the timer, and toprovide vmeans wherebyr the` to the plate at a point intermediatelyofthe dispensing mechanism operates the stop to movel guidemeans; theuse' ofy a'plate Awith a timer arlij'tit tostoppingposition'and thenrelease-it for'inranged laterally of one'ofv its guide means; the. 15:;dependent movement away from that position'at, use'of la springjformoving the plate away'vfromI the 'end-of the -timing period and undervcontrolstop position; the attachment-ofg the retracting ofthe timer.spring atfa point intermediately-of the guide A timer of the type yshownherein, that is of) means; specifically, the attachment ofthe spring201the vacuum-attachable type, is shown in my coto the link by which thefeedingmeans moves 29% pending application SerialNo. 91,515, and in theplate; .theuse-of the spring to-prevent rattling:

by which the movable stop(carrying a part., of cushioning vmemberin,conjunctionwith'a spring ythe timer) is controlled by feeding meansrto be which operates the feeding means to automatiindependent movementaway from that position. period; all details of 'construction' shownvinthe In my earlier 'application Serial No. 76,040 a slide combination;and' all broader ideasofV means intype of stop is shown which iscontrolled by a herent inthe disclosure. l n

link mechanism in themanner -just mentioned. f Features and advantageswill'bev set forthfin 30" In this-earlier case'the timeris of thesoLcalled the description- Vof they drawings, and in said 39,1 dashpottype. r drawings:v Y y y n y An object of the present invention'is topro- Figure 1` is a vertical section Vshowing in side vide a slidingtypeof stops'o arranged as to be elevation the mechanism of thisinvention, said operated or controlled by the feeding means 0rmechanismqbeing in its initial position, as when 3f5-measuxing roll andyet so arrangedv that it can ka `'portion of the paper is projectingsufficiently '35.; carry a part of a timer,-which timer is placed at forgrasping vto'be pulled out and then torn;'off;., the frontv of thecabinet'sothat its timer-ad-` Figure z2 shows the mechanism in stopping.`just`ng mechanism is accessible. This arrangeposition aswhen the fulllength of 'paperhaspA ment involves the problems of obtaining properbeen'withdrawnand it is ready vto-be torn oi. In 40a". sliding vortranslation of the stop, a positive move--l y this View the timer iSSUDDOSedlY Performing its 49 ment ofthe stop away from stop position,vand timing nfunction, at the end of which the mecha`v the avdan of noisedue to rattling. 1 msmwill resume theposivtionshown in Figure 1;

The device is particularly adapted for luse with Flgue '3 1S ahorlzontal section 'through thev a timer in which an element of thetimer moves ShdappmqmatelyQn 11n@ 3*-.3 Pf Flgllle 1; andA 4.5;;With oneof the stops Whether` it be a d'ashpot yFigure 4 1s a horizontal section.through the, 45":

slide approximately on lined- 4v of Figurevl. type of timer or vacuumattachable type, as re The numeral I` generauyindicates the Outer.

Spectvely Shown in my applications Seal Nos case ofthe cabinet which hasa door 2 hinged as y 15,2'7'1 and 75,040- 'f at 3 atfthe bottom'to swingdownwardly below- 50 n It 1S t0 .b e understood-that-the'prefsnt devlcethe bottom o-f the; cabinet.v The upper edge of 50 ,can be applied t0any QOmmQdltY-feedlngmchaj'- the door cooperates with theftop 5 `of the'cabinet IliSm in Whlcha Dalt mOVS; as the Commodlty 1S. to form a.delivery slot G Which extends entirely dispensed, whether it be ameasuringroll, asin across the from; .of the Cabinet' y, i the presentcase, or whether it be some other' In this case it has not beenthoughtnecessaryj` with one end of a spring for operating the roll,

to feed the paper at the end of the time period.

The roll, symbolic of feeding means, is indicated by dotted lines at 9and a second pressure roll ||3 is shown in dotted lines and..cooperateswith the roll 9. This roll li) is pressed by means of the spring H. Eachone of the plates 8 has a slot generally indicated at l2 for receiving asupply roll receiving shaft i3 having trunnions 4 I4 disposed as shown.On this roll i3 al supply roll of sheet material i5 is mounted. It willbe understood from the prior-art that the paper is fed from the supplyrollr i5 upwardly over the feed roll 9, thence-downwardly and outwardlythrough the delivery slot B. Whenever the paper is pulled by the user`the -roll is rotated. The operation of these devices is so well knownthatno other description is considered necessary except that which willbe given hereafter, and which relates to the action of the mechanism,which is the Vparticular subject matter of this application.

In the present embodiment, which is only illustrative ofthe inventionbutwhich at present is a preferred form (see Figure l), there isattached to the roll 9 or to a part which moves during dispensing, aplate 2B having a stop shoulder 2|. This shoulder 2| for the sake ofconvenience will be referred toas the rst stop,

, and the stop now to be described will be' referred to as the second orslide stop. This second stop is on or has the form oi a. plate v22, a'face of greatest area of' which is parallel with a correspending face ofthe-face or support 8, upon whichk ,Y plate the dispensing mechanism ismounted. The

upright S (see Figures 3 and 4) is slotted ver-- tically as at 25, andthe stop plate 22 has a right angle guide extension 26 entering theslot, and

in this case passing through it. This flange extension 26 has near itsbottom a right angle alA extension 2l of small area engaging the insidesurface of the upright 8 to prevent movement ofthe plate 22 outwardly oraway from the outer face of the upright 8. i

At the opposite side'the plate 22 has a right angle slide-formingextension or ilange 30 which slidably engages a corresponding abutment3| of a; guide plate 32, the extension 30 sliding against the uprightsurface of the abutment 3|. The guide plate 32 has a portion 35 whichoverlaps the front or outer face of the slide or plate 22, and the parts3|, 35, guide slot 25 and the extension 21 cooperate to guide the plateso that it can freely move vertically. This. stop plate 22 is furtherprovided with arightangle flange extension 31 which may be referred toas thesecond stop, and when the plate is positioned, asl in Figure 2,this stop 37 is engaged by the stop-shoulder `2|.

The stop plate or slide 22 also has a laterally extending portion 33upon which is mounted a vacuum cup 3Q which cooperates with anothervacuum cup t@ secured to a bracket 4|, which bracket is in turn securedwithin a recessed portion 42 of the upright 8. These two cups form partof 'a timer of the type shownfin my copending applicationSerial1No.'-91,515 and there isno intention here to claim this deviceper se, but only in combination with a slide plate, as distinguishedfrom a slide bar. The timer has the elements 44, IE5, 46, 4l forregulating the rate of release of the vacuum, and it will be understoodthat when the vacuum is released the slide 22 promptly moves downwardlyto bring its stopping portion out of the path of the stop Vshoulder 2|.Figure l shows the mechanism in the released position and Figure 2 showsit in stop position.

' There were problems involved in providing a .slide for the purposes,and in the combinations herein, which would be strong, which wouldunfailingly move away from stop position without sticking. Theseproblems involved the reduction oi friction and the prevention of rattleand noise, combined with sturdiness.

I have solved these-problems by providing guide `means for the slide soplaced as to be balanced relatively to other elements, and by providingmeansjto simultaneously act to hold the edge 30 ofv the-plate againstthe slide surface 3| and to dispose the greater portion of the innersurface of theplate away from the corresponding at surfaceof theupright, that is, to reduce frictional engagement between the slidingparts to a minimum, and to positively urge the stop plate instop-release direction. to have conceived of using a single means forany one of these purposes, in a stop-mechanism.

-inV the drawings a single spring 49 is used to hold the sliding partsto prevent rattle and to retract the stop plate. In this embodiment thespring has been attached at one end as at 50 to a.v

link 5| pivot-ed as at 52 to aprojection of the flange orstop 3l. Thislink has a slot 53 loosely traversed by a pin 54, which pin is carriedby the stop plate 2D. The opposite end of the spring is attached as atto the plate 8. The operation of this link is the same as that invmycopending application Serial I\To.`l5,27l and the link connection perse' isl not claimed herein, but only its balanced connection in relationto the guide means of the plate 22.

The invention in part consists in the combination -of the link, incombination with a plate which has a broad surface opposed to acorrespending surface oi the upright, and in the means by which thisplate is made to operate freely, yet relatively noisele'ssly, so thatthe plate will unfailingly, positively and quickly move away fromstopping position, or so that it will virtually drop to stop releaseposition only at the end of atime'period at which the vacuum action ofthe timer is annulled.

In this instance the spring is diagonally arranged so that it tends tomove the plate 22 to the left, as shown in the gure, and tends throughits connection with the link and the' linksconnection Withthe plateV tomove the plate slightly away from the upright plate 8, to reducefriction and stop rattle by moving it for these purposes about the part3l as a fulcrum or hinge point. All but slight movement is' prevented bymeans ofthe flange 2l. It is to be noted that the friotonal contactsurface of this flange with the inside of the upright 8 is veryV small.

Figures 3 and 4, which-are horizontal sections, illustrate 'therelations of the inner face of the slide to' the outer face of theupright, and show how thespring tends to slightly separate the parts" toreduce the' area'- of frictional contact between these surfaces-to aminimum, and to holdl I believe myself the first` asfthe slide toprevent rattle. The friction slide surfaces are also reduced to aminimum.

Although I have described the spring as being attached to the link, thisis not absolutely necessary and I broadly claim the application of anymeans so arranged that it will perform the antirattle or anti-frictionor stop-retracting functions previously referred to.

This invention is applied in a type of device in which a portion of thepaper sufficient to be grasped is projected immediately following thecompletion of a timed release of the stop mechanism. InFigure 2 theparts are shown in the` stop position and it is assumed that the timeris operating, and that at the end of the time period the slide'stop willfall to non-stop position. It-

can beseen by the dotted lines of the figure that when this occurs thespring 10, acting on a disk s 'l Iv attached or fixed to the feed roll9, will move the roll in feeding or clockwise direction and'vin so doingpaper will be automatically fed out for grasping. The feed-out is rapid,and during the same the parts suddenly again assume the position ofFigure 1.

) or extension of the slide, the cushioning element ser engaging a smallshelf Tl of thefupright 8. It does not particularly matter towhichelement the cushion `is attached. The cushion element is compressed andimmediately after the slide is brought to the position of Figure 1.I'hiscushion `element may act as a stop to limit the downward movement.In case it is dispensed with as it may be in some instances, the lowerend of the flange 30 may engage the upper edge of the part 35.

It is to be noted that the vacuum cups are engaged rather suddenly, andthis engagement tends to rotate plate 22 in clockwise direction againstthe tension of the spring 49, which results in a cushioning effect. Thespring, therefore, substantially overcomes this tendency, at least totheextent that the device is less noisy,

the'reason being that the spring is set at an angle'- so that it pullsin a `direction toward the abutment and therefore in a direction awayfrom the timer. A ratchet wheel 80 attached to the roll 9 and a pawl 8|,both shown only in dotted lines,

prevent reverse motion of the feed or measuring roll 9. n

As the parts assume the position of Figure 1 after stop release andunder the action of the slightly compressed. However, at this timetherey is no vacuum holding the cups together and as soon as the paperis grasped by the user and the roll S is turned, the stop 2l movesaround and at the same time the slide movesl downwardly and thenupwardly again, and by the time it has reached its uppermost positionthe stop 2l of the roll engages the slide stop 31. Timing now -beginsand at the end of the time period the slide suddenly drops to itslowermost position under the action o-f the spring. It is conceivablethat under some conditions the spring may be eliminated and yet have aprompt dropping ac'-A lpaper and thereby turns the roll.

tion occur. This is possible due to the fact that the elements arebalanced as a result of they connection of the link at a pointintermediately of the guide means of the plate. This feature of verticalguiding by relatively widely horizontally spaced vertical guide meanswith the link connection made intermediately thereof is a feature perse.

For an understanding of the feed-out after timing action attention isparticularly called to the relation of the roll-operating spring 10 tothe axis of rotation and to the roll 9 and to the stops 2l and 3l,respectively, in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 1 the spring 'I0 is ready tobe put under greater tension as soon as the user pulls out the In Figure2 the spring has assumed such a position that it will automatically turnthe roll in feed-out direction immediately on release of the stopv asgoverned by the annulment of the vacuum, controlled by the timedentrance of air between the cups,

I have heretofore spoken of the spring 49 or its equivalent as havingthree functions, one to hold the left side of the slide in close slidingrelation, another to move the slide outwardly to reduce friction betweenits face and the face of the upright, and another to positively move thestop away from stop position. It will be understood that at the sametime the anti-rattle function is performed. Moreover, I do not intend tolimit myself to the simultaneous performance of all three functions butintend to cover the antirattlel function only per se, the hingingfunction only per se, and the hinging or anti-friction function per se.

In practice instead ofjhaving the spring or its equivalent perform ythehinging function,` the plate can be so formed that its inner face isspaced from the corresponding face of the upright over the greaterportion of its area'. However, it is noted that there is an advantage inhaving a relatively wide plate'in that the opposite guide edges'are agreater distance apart and a better balance can be had to reduce thetendency of the plate to rock in a plane parallel with its face and theface of the upright. It will be understood that' lifting link is so piv`oted to the plate in'relation to the guided opposite edges of the plateand in relation to the center of gravity ofthe plate and of its attachedrubber cup and cushioning element as to give, as'

nearly as possible,y a straight vertical lift to reduce rocking of theplate in a plane parallel to the face of the upright 8, thus avoidingbinding with the guides. i

Another feature of the invention relates to the angular relation of thestop surface of the element 3l or second stop, to the direction oftranslation of the plate 22 to facilitate separation of the stopsA asthe plate moves away from stop position at the end of the time period,under action of spring 49, or by gravity action. of the plate only.

I claim as my invention:

l. A dispensing cabinet having therein an upright support having feedingmeans mounted thereon, a stop for the feeding means, a plate having astop adapted to be moved into the path of the feeding means stop, meansslidably mounting the plate, including a vertical slot in the support, aflange on one edge of the plate slidable in the slot, means on theflange engageable with theinner face of the support in the manner toslidably hold The plate against motion away from f from the support, a

l the plate for independent movement away there from.

2. A dispensing cabinet having therein an upright support having feedingmeans thereon, a step for the feeding means, a plate having a stopadapted to be moved into the path of the feeding means stop, meansslidably mounting the plate, including vertical slot in the support, aflange on one edge of the plate slidable in the slot, means on theflange engageable with the inner -face of the support in the manner toslidably hold the plete against movement away from the support out tolimit that movement, an abutment on the support with which the oppositevertical edge of the plate slidably engages, means on the abutment forlimiting outward movement of the plate away from the support, a linkpivoted to the plate intermediately of the slot and abutment, means bywhich the feeding means operates the link to move the plate to stoppingposition and then releases the plate for independent movement away fromstop position, and a spring attached to the link and functioning to movethe plate away from stop position and acting to urge the edge of theplate against said abutment.

3. A dispensing cabinet having therein an upright support having ameasuring roll journaled thereon, a stop for the roll, a plate having astop adapted to be moved into the path of the stop for the roll, meansslidably mounting the plate, including a vertical slot in the support, aflange on one edge of the plate slidable in the slot, means on thelia-nge engageable with the inner face of the support in the manner toallow slight movement of the face of the plate away from the face of thesupport but to limit that movement, an abutment on the support withwhich the opposite vertical edge of the plate slidably engages, means onthe abutment for limiting movement of the pate away from the support,and a spring having the triple function of acting to move the plate awayfrom stop position, of urging the edge of the plate against saidabutment, and of urging the plate away from the support whereby to causethe iirst mentioned limiting means to slidably engage the inner face ofthe support, and means by which the roll moves the plate to stopposition and thereafter releases the same for independent movement awaytherefrom.

4. In a dispensing cabinet having a feeding imeans, said feeding meanshaving a stop, a stop plate loosely guided by transversely spaced guidemeans adapting the plate to move into the path of the stop of thefeeding means, means by which the plate is moved to stop position byoperation ,i of the feeding means and then released for independentn'iovement away from that position, a timer arranged laterally of theguide means, and means by which it is controlled by and controls saidstop plate to hold the stop in stop position during the timing periodand to automatically release it at the end of said period, and a springacting on the plate to move it downwardly and toward that guide meanswhich is farthest from said laterally spaced timer.

5. A dispensing cabinet having rotary dispensing means, having a stopshoulder, a Slide loosely guided by parallel means spaced transverselyof the slide, said slide having a stop shoulder engageable with the stopshoulder of the rotary means, a link pivoted to the slide, and means bywhich operation of the dispensing means operates the link to move theslide upwardly to stop position and then releases the slide forindependent motion away from such position, and a spring for moving theslide away from stop position, and for holding the slide against itsguide means.

6. A dispensing cabinet having rotary dispensing means, having a stopshoulder, a slide loosely guided by parallel means spaced transversely,said slide having a stop shoulder engageable With the stop shoulder ofthe rotary means and disposed intermediately of said guide means, a linkpivoted to the slide at a point intermediately of the guide means, aspring acting on the slide to move it from stop position and serving tohold the slide against its guide means, and means by which operation ofthe dispensing means operates the link to move the slide upwardly tostop position and then releases the slide for independent motion awayfrom such position.

7. A dispensing cabinet having a feeding means having a stop, a stopplate guided by horizontally spaced guide means adapting the plate tomove into the path of the stop of the feeding means, means by which theplate is moved to stop position by operation of the feeding means,including a link one end of which is attached to the plate at a pointintermediately of said guide means, a timer arranged laterally of one ofthe guide means, and means by which it is controlled by and controlssaid stop plate, and a spring acting on the plate to move it away fromstop position and toward that guide means which is farthest from saidlaterally spaced timer, said spring acting to prevent rattling of saidplate, and means for cushioning said plate during downward motion underthe action of said spring.

8. In a dispensing cabinet having a dispensing means, a time-stopmechanism controlled by and controlling said means, including a slidableplate having a part constituting one of two independently movable stops,first means slidably guiding the plate at one side and allowing theplate to swing as a hinge, second means slidably guiding the plate atthe opposite side, means associated with said second guiding means tolimit the hinging motion, and means so placed as to simultaneously actto hold the edge of the plate in hinging relation, move the plate as ahinge, and positively urge the plate in stop release direction.

9. In a dispensing apparatus having dispensing means mounted in partupon an upright plate, a stop mechanism for said dispensing means,including rst and second movable stops and means by which the firstoperates the second to move it into stopping relation with the nrst andthereafter release it for automatic movement away from stoppingposition, said second stop comprising one edge of a plate, which plateis arranged iiatly against said upright plate, means guiding the plateat opposite vertical sides, a. spring for retracting the plate from stopposition, and attached to the plate intermediately of those sides, and atimer lying laterally of one of said guiding means and including anelement carried by the plate and adapted to become attached to astationary element when the plate moves to stop position, said elementsbeing constituted by vacuum cups which become vacuum attached when thestopping portion 0f the plate is in the stopping path of the first stop.

l0. A dispensing cabinet having feeding means having a stop, a slidableplate adapted to be engaged by the stop of the feeding means, meanstranslatably guiding said plate at two points which are spaced in adirection ltransverse to the direction of translation of the plate,` atimer placed laterally of the plate and its guiding means and havingparts which are adapted to be brought together when the plate is movedtoward stop position, means by which the feeding means operates theplate to bring it to stop position and release it for independentmovement awayfrom such position, and yieldable means acting on the plateto resist tipping of the plate in its guiding means as the parts of thetimer engage one an-4 other by impact.`

11. A dispensing cabinet having feeding means having a stop, a slidableplate adapted to be engaged by the stop of the feeding means, meanstranslatably guiding said -plate at two points which are spaced in adirection transverse tothe direction of translation of the plate, and atimer placed laterally of the plate, one part of the timer being carriedby the plateto set the timer as the plate moves to stop position, meansby which the feeding means operates the plate to bring it to stopposition and release it for independent movement away from suchposition, and yieldable means acting on the `plate to resist tipping ofthe plate in its guide means as the' timer is set during the movement ofthe plate to stop position.

12. A dispensing cabinet having yfeeding means and a stop mechanism forsaid means including,

' a stop movable with said feeding means, a slidable plate and guidesfor'the plate, one at each opposite edge, said feeding means stop beingadapted to engage said plate as a stop to urge said plate 13. Adispensing cabinet having feeding means Y having a stop,a slidable plateand guides for the plate, one at each opposite edge, said feeding meansstopl being adapted to engage said plate as a stop to urge said platetoward and against one of said guides, a spring acting on the plate tomove it also toward the last mentioned guide and to also move the plateaway from stopping position, said plate having a support extendinglaterally of the opposite guide, said support having thereon avacuum-cup, a second vacuum cup with which said rst cup is engageablewhen the slide moves toward stopping position, said cups when engagedacting to hold the plate in stopping position, means for automaticallyreleasing the vacuum at the end of a-timeperiod, and means by which saidfeeding means moves the lplate into stopping position and then releasesit for independent'movement away from such position.

14. Astop mechanism'for a feeding means, including a rst stop movablewith the feeding means, a slidable element and first and second guidestherefor `which allow free sliding and tilt-v` ing motions of saidslidable element, said first stop being adapted to engage the slidableelement as a stop to urge said element toward the iirst guide, a timercomprising members adapted to be engaged by impact, one of the membersbeing carried by said slidable element, and means act,- ing on saidslidable element to yieldably resist tipping of the same in its guidesas the parts` of the timer engage one anotherby impact.

15. A stop mechanism for a feeding means, including a rst stop movablewith the feeding means, a slidable element and first and second guidestherefor which allow free sliding and tilt? ing motions of said slidableelement, said rst stop being adapted to engage the slidable element as astop to urge said element toward the first guide, a timer arrangedlaterally of the second guide and of the slidable element and inopposition to both, said timer comprising members `adapted to be engagedby impact, one of the members being carried by said slidable element,

and means actingon'said slidable element tor yieldably resist tipping ofthe same in its guides as the parts of the timer engage one another byimpact.

RUDOLPH G. BIRR.

